"Decree 1702 of 2023, issued on Oct. 19 by the Ministry of the Interior, is not compatible with the constitutional parameters on freedom of expression and affects the right to inform and be informed about the elections. These restrictions, days before the elections, sow confusion for the authorities and journalists covering the Oct. 29 elections.
Article 4 of the Decree states that during election day all kinds of 'interviews for political-electoral purposes through radio, press and television' are prohibited. This is an arbitrary restriction considering that candidate statements are a matter of public interest and it is common for the media to seek such interviews on that day. The provision does not offer criteria to differentiate an interview that has political-electoral purposes from one that does not.
On the other hand, Article 13 of the Decree determines that during election day the media 'may only provide information of public order that has been previously confirmed by official sources.'"
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